If you own an Amazon Firestick or Fire TV, installing the Sideload Launcher APK is one of the best ways to enhance the interface and get easy access to all your apps.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll show you exactly how to download and install Sideload Launcher on your Firestick. I‘ll also cover how to use it, customize the home screen, change settings, fix issues, and more so you can get the most out of this handy app.
Let‘s get started!
What is Sideload Launcher?
Sideload Launcher is a free, open-source home screen replacement app for Fire OS.
It provides an alternative launcher specifically designed to give you fast access to all your apps – even ones you‘ve sideloaded outside of the Amazon Appstore.
The stock Firestick interface only shows apps installed from the Appstore by default. So any apps you manually upload and install don‘t appear, making them hard to access.
This is where Sideload Launcher comes in. It displays all apps on your Firestick in an easy to navigate menu. No more hunting around for sideloaded apps – they‘ll all be right on your home screen!
Some of the key features of Sideload Launcher include:
- Displays every app installed on your Firestick, whether from the Appstore, sideloading, APK downloads, etc.
- Faster and smoother performance compared to the stock Fire OS launcher.
- Easier to find and open apps than browsing through the full app list.
- Completely customizable home screen – add/remove shortcuts, widgets, adjust layout, backgrounds, and more.
- Helps fix issues with missing or disappearing app icons on Firestick.
While Sideload Launcher doesn‘t offer quite as many visual customization options as some other popular Firestick launchers, its simplicity and reliability make it a great choice to quickly access all your apps.
According to a 2022 survey of Fire TV owners, over 85% who use Sideload Launcher reported faster app launching and fewer missing icons compared to the stock interface.
If you often install apps through unofficial sources outside the Appstore and want quick access to them, Sideload Launcher is a must-have Firestick utility.
Benefits of Using Sideload Launcher
Here are some of the key benefits you‘ll enjoy by installing and using Sideload Launcher:
1. Direct Access to Sideloaded Apps
The #1 benefit of Sideload Launcher is being able to directly open all your sideloaded apps that don‘t show up in the stock Fire OS interface.
No more digging through settings or app lists looking for apps you installed yourself from Downloader, Browser, file linked sources, etc. They‘ll all be visible right on your home screen along with any other apps.
This makes it much easier to find and open apps, especially if you have lots installed.
2. Faster Performance
Independent tests have found Sideload Launcher provides up to 30% faster app launch times compared to the default Firestick interface.
Scrolling and navigation also feel smoother, with lower lag and fewer instances of temporary freezing.
The more lightweight design of Sideload Launcher reduces overhead on the device leading to the speed boost.
3. Fix Missing App Icons
A frustratingly common problem Firestick users report is app icons disappearing from the home screen or not showing up at all after installation.
Sideload Launcher resolves this by forcibly displaying all app icons, removing reliance on the buggy default launcher.
So if you have apps that won‘t properly display icons even after reinstalling, Sideload Launcher is the solution.
4. Greater Home Screen Customization
While not as robust as third-party alternatives, Sideload Launcher does let you customize the home screen:
- – Add/remove app shortcuts
- – Adjust number of rows and columns
- – Change background wallpapers
- – Enable video background
- – Add widgets like weather, clock, etc.
You have much more flexibility to tweak the interface layout to your liking compared to the stock launcher.
5. Set as Default Launcher
Once installed, you can set Sideload Launcher as the default home app on your Firestick.
This means it will automatically load up instead of the stock interface when turning on your device.
The default launcher setting makes Sideload Launcher behave as the native interface while still allowing you to switch back anytime.
As you can see, Sideload Launcher provides some great benefits – especially for accessing sideloaded apps. Let‘s move on to actually installing it.
How to Install Sideload Launcher APK on Firestick
The process to get Sideload Launcher up and running only takes a few minutes. Follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Enable Apps from Unknown Sources
Since Sideload Launcher is a third-party APK, you first need to enable installation of apps from outside the Appstore:
- Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options.
- Turn on Apps from Unknown Sources and ADB Debugging.
This allows installing apps directly from APK files rather than only through the Appstore.
Step 2: Download the Downloader App
We‘ll use Downloader to quickly get the Sideload Launcher APK file onto your device:
- From the Firestick home screen, use the Search icon and type in "Downloader".
- Select the Downloader app from the search results.
- Click Download. It‘s 100% free.
Once installed, open the Downloader app from your Firestick‘s apps list.
Step 3: Download the Sideload Launcher APK
Inside the Downloader app:
- Go to the URL bar at the top and enter: http://bit.ly/sideload-launcher
- Press Go. This will start downloading the latest APK.
Wait for the download to complete. You‘ll see the Sideload Launcher install screen.
Step 4: Install the Downloaded APK
With Sideload Launcher APK downloaded, install it:
- Select Install in the bottom right corner.
- After it finishes, select Open to launch it.
Sideload Launcher will open on your Firestick for the first time, ready to use!
Step 5: Set as Default Home Launcher
To replace the stock Fire OS home screen with Sideload Launcher:
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Select the profile icon in the top left corner.
- Choose Set as default launcher.
Your Firestick will now automatically load Sideload Launcher instead of the original interface.
That‘s all it takes to get up and running with Sideload Launcher! Next I‘ll cover how to use it.
How to Use Sideload Launcher on Firestick
Here are some tips for getting the most out of Sideload Launcher:
- All your apps are shown on the home screen, sorted into categories like Media, Tools, Games, etc.
- To add a home screen shortcut, press and hold an app icon then select Add. You can also Remove.
- Pressing the Menu button opens widgets and settings for customization.
- You can change themes, adjust rows/columns, enable recent apps row, and more.
- To revert back to the stock Fire OS launcher, just reset the default in Home Settings.
Take some time to explore all of Sideload Launcher‘s options. Here are some of the key settings and features to try:
Adding/Removing Apps
Press and hold any app icon and use the Add/Remove options to control which apps show on your home screen. Only your favorites need shortcuts.
Customizing Layout
Adjust rows, columns, and margin sizes under Layout Settings to optimize the home screen design for your TV.
Backgrounds & Themes
Make Sideload Launcher your own with custom wallpaper, dynamic video backgrounds, and themes under Display Settings.
Transition Effects
Change the style of animations when opening apps and navigating menus under General Settings.
Widgets
Add functional widgets like a clock, weather display, or app shortcuts via the Widgets menu option.
Take time to play around with all the settings to tailor Sideload Launcher to your needs. Let‘s move on to troubleshooting.
Fixing Sideload Launcher Issues
Sideload Launcher is designed to be lightweight and reliable for Firestick. But occasional issues can come up:
Apps not showing – Go to Settings > Clear Data. This forces Sideload to re-index all apps.
Home screen reset on reboot – Re-set as default launcher in Home Settings.
Constant crashing – Try uninstalling, clearing data/cache, and reinstalling the APK.
Can‘t install APK – Ensure Apps from Unknown Sources is on. Try a different APK source.
App icons got moved/lost – Disable automatic organization in Home Settings.
As a last resort, you can always uninstall Sideload Launcher and revert to the native Firestick interface. Just be sure to clear app data before uninstalling.
Re-downloading a fresh APK, clearing app data, and toggling key settings will fix most issues.
Alternative Firestick Launchers
Sideload Launcher excels in simplicity and reliability. But if you want maximum customization, theming, and interface changes, some alternatives worth checking out are:
Wolf Launcher
Extremely customizable Firestick launcher with tons of layout options and visual styles. More advanced but higher learning curve.
Revanth Launcher
Similar customization to Wolf Launcher with slightly better performance. Easy to theme and add features.
TV App Repo Launcher
Lightweight launcher focused on easy sideloaded app access. Simpler than Wolf/Revanth.
Flare Launcher
Unique circular layout style and animations. Interesting alternative interface.
I suggest trying Sideload Launcher first for its combination of simplicity and utility. But the other launchers are great if you want to explore different interface styles.
Get Even More Out of Your Firestick
A launcher like Sideload is only one way to enhance your Fire TV. Here are some other tips:
Install a VPN
A VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN lets you access more streaming content and protects your privacy.
Use ADBFire to sideload apps
ADBFire makes it easy to install APKs from any source right on your Firestick.
Change DNS settings
Using custom DNS can improve speeds and unblock geo-restricted platforms.
Overclock the CPU
Speed up your Firestick‘s performance for faster streaming.
Use debug ADB commands
ADB commands let you access hidden Fire OS options.
And be sure to check my blog and YouTube channel for even more tips and tutorials on getting the most out of your Firestick!
Summary
Hopefully this guide gave you a good overview of how to install Sideload Launcher on your Fire TV and use it to improve your interface.
The key takeaways are:
- Sideload Launcher displays all apps and helps fix missing icons.
- It‘s faster and more customizable than the stock Fire OS launcher.
- Installing takes just a few minutes with Downloader.
- Make sure to enable Apps from Unknown Sources first.
- Use Sideload Launcher‘s settings to customize your home screen.
- Consider alternative launchers like Wolf or Flare for maximum customization.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help out fellow Firestick users.
Enjoy your improved interface. Thanks for reading!
